NYFA Headlines

AMC’s "The Walking Dead" Episode Revolves Around NYFA Alumna Alanna Masterson

November 29, 2016 Since season four of AMC’s mega-hit show "The Walking Dead," New York Film Academy alumna Alanna Masterson has played the role of Tara Chambler.

Following the season four episode called “Live Bait,” which focuses on The Governor, played by British star David Morrissey, Masterson became a series regular. Her character formed a romantic relationship with the community’s doctor Denise Cloyd, making her the first LGBT character to be introduced to the show.

The season seven mid-season episode “Swear,” which aired Sunday, Nov. 27, 2016, not only reintroduced Tara but also focused solely on her character. In the episode and through her character’s adventures, in which Masterson shows off her remarkable range of acting chops, the audience is introduced to a new community of all-female characters. Without giving too much away, the official synopsis for “Swear” reads, "Someone stumbles upon a brand new society, and this society is unlike anything seen before."



Masterson, who grew up in Long Island, NY, took a 4-Week Filmmaking Program at NYFA Los Angeles in 2006. In addition to her role in “The Walking Dead,” Masterson has appeared in TV series such as “The Young and the Restless,” “Malcolm in the Middle,” “Terminator: The Sarah Connor Chronicles,” and “Grey’s Anatomy.” She also played Lydia as a recurring role in the ABC series “Mistresses.”






Please note: NYFA does not represent that these are typical or guaranteed career outcomes. The success of our graduates in any chosen professional pathway depends on multiple factors, and the achievements of NYFA alumni are the result of their hard work, perseverance, talent and circumstances.